York High grad joins local indoor football team

A York High graduate has signed on with York's new indoor football team.

York Capitals head coach Kelly Logan announced Monday that former Bearcat Javan Matthews has joined the team as an offensive lineman. He is the first York County product to sign with the expansion team in the American Indoor Football league.

Matthews is a 6-foot, 6-inch, 290-pounder who formerly played with the Harrisburg Stampede. Matthews also said he has previous indoor football experience with teams in Billings, Mont.; Yakima, Wash.; Fairbanks, Alaska; and Huntsville, Ala.

Matthews is a 2003 York High graduate.

Matthews

"I'm looking to do pretty well," Matthews said. "I've been doing this for four or five years now and I don't have a ring. I'm looking to help York get a championship. It's a great opportunity to play for the city I live in. I'm just trying to bring something positive for York and be a role model for young people."

Logan said the Capitals have now signed 29 players, and they hope to sign 11 more at a tryout set for this Sunday. The Capitals can carry 40 players during training camp and 30 players during the season.

"I expect him to be a starter, but it's all up to him," Logan said of Matthews. "He has to prove himself just like everyone else. But I couldn't pass him by. I couldn't let him go somewhere else."

Logan was originally slated to be the Capitals' defensive coordinator and Jimmy Lewis was set to be the team's head coach. The organization, however, recently revised the coaching staff, moving Logan to head coach and defensive coordinator, and making Lewis the defensive backs coach.

Logan said the moves were made because of his previous coaching experience in indoor football with the Stampede, Reading Express and Lehigh Valley Outlaws. Logan has seven years of experience in indoor football.

The Capitals' tryout this Sunday is set for 8 a.m. at the Lanco Fieldhouse in East Petersburg. The cost is $45 for players with previous semi-pro experience and $55 for all others.

"I'm excited," Logan said. "We've signed a lot of veterans and brought in a lot of experience. The community has been welcoming us with open arms and a lot of love."

The Capitals are set to open their season on March 29 at the Roc City Thunder in Rochester, N.Y. The Capitals' first home game at the York City Ice Arena is scheduled for April 6, also against the Thunder.